Bikes, bands and beer: Rock ‘N’ Goldsprints has it all

A Rock ‘N’ Goldsprints event will be held at Rock Lititz’s Pod 2 on Saturday night. (image from Lititz Bikeworks)

Mark and Rebecca Branle want to see which local can go 500 yards the fastest from a dead stop on a single gear bike — and they’re putting beers in the hands of those who want to watch the competition. Lititz Bikeworks will hold its first Goldsprints event this Saturday, Feb. 25, at their location in Pod 2 of the Rock Lititz campus. The party will feature craft beers and catered snacks from Lititz’s newest eatery, Gravie.

Goldsprints are a form of bicycle roller racing, which have gained in popularity since the 1999 Cycle Messenger World Championships held in Zurich, Switzerland. Typically the “ride” last 30 to 40 seconds, said Mark.

“There are two people competing against each other on a fixed bike,” said Mark. “This is not the Tour de France. It’s all out, as hard as you can go for about 30 seconds.”

“People don’t have to race, and you don’t have to be in shape if you want to; it’s more about just having fun,” said Rebecca.

In Goldsprints, the front wheel of the bike is removed and the rear wheel spins against a drum; the drum calculates the riders distance. A monitor behind each rider will broadcast their speed and remaining distance. Only the crowd can see the display and boisterously encourage the riders.

“It started out as a completion, but is now kind of a bar event, like a party happening,” explained Mark.

The event works on a bracket system, where winners advance to ride again. Branle expects to cap participants at 75 riders who can register at bikereg.com/rockngoldsprints and pay a $10 entry fee (there is no charge for spectators). Prizes for the top performers will include a Giro Cinder MIPS helmet and a Cyclops Fluid 2 indoor trainer.

“Other stuff will include t-shirts that will just be thrown out into the crowd,” said Rebecca.

Food is free for participants and onlookers. Gravie is cooking up charcuterie-style meat and cheese selections, hummus and crudité, pizza, chips, guacamole, and hot dip.

“It’s more of like finger foods, but it’s pretty hardy,” said Rebecca.

Troegs First Cut IPA (above), New Belgium Fat Tire, and a domestic “lite” beer will be available for purchase at the Goldsprints event. (Image from Troegs)

As for beer –; and probably why you are reading this column — Troegs First Cut IPA, New Belgium Fat Tire, and a domestic “lite” beer will be available for purchase. (For those non-beer drinkers staff will pour a Pinot Grigio and Cabernet.)

The event will feature live music from Serenading Fool, playing a combination of covers (The Beatles, Bowie, Black Keys, “and everything in between”) and originals. The band started with guitarists Alex Roberts and John Martine, who added bassist Greg Smart and drummer Matthew Brubaker. Roberts met Brubaker, an accomplished cyclist, through racing and cyclocross practices in Lancaster County Park. The band is a natural fit to put the “rock” in Rock ‘N’ Goldsprints.

“This event will fit the Lancaster County scene very well,” said Mark. “It’s going to do very well.”

His goal is to have a Goldsprints event three or four times a year.

“The idea is to bring people into Pod 2 and let people see what is going on here,” said Mark.

Cheers and thanks for reading!

Michael C. Upton is a freelance writer specializing in arts and leisure. He welcomes comments at somepromcu@gmail.com and facebook.com/SomebodiesProductions.